Social and economic policy

This summary report reflects on some of the key public events jointly hosted and coordinated by UNICEF South Africa through the Social Policy section and its social partners. Documenting discussions and how various stakeholders responded to questions raised in the seminars and webinars afforded UNICEF South Africa the opportunity to plan and…

UNICEF South Africa does an annual budget brief series that examines how government budgets support the well-being of children and adolescents. In 2021, the focus was on understanding the extent to which social sector services have become more equitable for poor and vulnerable children. In 2022, the budget briefs take a quality focus and enquire…

UNICEF South Africa produces an annual Budget Brief series in sectors that have a direct bearing on the well-being of children. These Briefs analyse the composition and allocation of sector budgets while describing how proposed allocations and past spending are likely to affect the realisation of children’s socio-economic rights. For 2021, the …

“It really hurts,” Thulukani tells me, as he reflects on the destruction of Intokozo FM’s studios just two weeks ago. The community radio station in Umlazi township, Durban, was one of the victims of the recent unrest and violence that plagued large parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces in South Africa. “When they came, I just ran, they […, An acute and long-term emergency, The devastation is clear to see as we drive across the city. A burnt-out family-run pharmacy that stood for 80-years, a devastated mini-supermarket and ATM machines ripped out of mall walls. The result is an estimated 2 billion Rand [US$13.7million] of damage across KwaZulu-Natal province, including 139 devastated schools. Many classrooms that…, Lives and opportunities lost, Chesterville township straddles the bank of a steep hill, some 13kms west of Durban city. Below the housing shacks is a small business complex that hosts Innovate Durban. The tech lab was positioned here to provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people to build their digital skills and to maximize their creativity, with the goal of…, Recover and build back together , The physical rebuilding of parts of Isipingo and other areas will be vital to help revive livelihoods, but it will need to go together with a healing process that brings young people into the dialogue. UNICEF, with other UN agencies and partners are setting up programming to respond. With private sector support, UNICEF is providing immediate…, Moving forward step-by-step, After one-week off air, Intokozo FM found a temporary studio and DJ Fabulous delivers the daily drive-time show again. UNICEF is working with Intokozo and other radio stations to re-equip and to roll-out youth-led programming that promotes dialogue and positive community engagement.  At the Innovation Lab, Amy Benn and the team are planning to…

 UNICEF South Africa and partners asked children and young people to express how they ‘reimagine’ the country beyond COVID-19. Using the proven ‘design thinking’ methodology, UNICEF in partnership with the South African Institute of International Affairs brought together virtually some 150 children and young people from across the country to…,   We, the children and youth of South Africa, see ourselves as the generation that will spark a wildfire resulting in young people actively taking up space in all spheres of our country. We envision a future that is conducive and favourable for young people to grow and prosper, freely and with dignity. We envision a future where young people are…, Economic considerations, We note with deep concern that the global COVID-19 pandemic induced economic crises which hindered poverty reduction and job creation efforts. As a result, the country's existing high unemployment rate has increased to 32.5% and this mostly affects the youth population. We acknowledge relief efforts made by the private sector to assist the public…, Environmental considerations, We welcome all advancements taken to enhance South Africa’s climate action through policy interventions including, but not limited to, the establishment of the Presidential Climate Change Coordination Commissions and the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Furthermore, we eagerly wait for the South African Climate Change Bill to be passed…, Social considerations, We note with concern the deepening gender inequality gap that has further been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in the increase in the rate of gender-based violence, femicide, human trafficking, lack of access to reproductive healthcare, and sexual exploitation in the workplace. In addition, we are alarmed by the culture of…, Reimagine our Future Declaration We, the children and youth of South Africa, see ourselves as the generation that will spark a wildfire resulting in young people actively taking up space in all spheres of our country. We envision a future that is conducive and favourable for young people to grow and prosper, freely and with dignity. We envision a…

UNICEF produces an annual budget brief series in sectors that have a direct bearing on the well-being of children. These briefs analyse the composition and allocation of sector budgets while describing how proposed allocations and past spending are likely to affect the realisation of children’s socio-economic rights. By doing this annually, UNICEF…

The government of the Republic of South Africa and the United Nations are committed to measuring poverty in all its dimensions. Following the conclusion and release of a study that measures children’s deprivation or lack of access to key services, UNICEF South Africa has developed a shorter Policy Brief that outlines the key findings of the larger…

Disasters require extraordinary responses from governments and citizens. The United Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has developed extensive expertise during emergencies and works tirelessly to protect the social and economic rights of children during disasters.  As part of its information obligations, UNICEF South Africa has developed a short policy and…, April 2020, Brief:Public Finance for Children in the National State of Disaster 2 Key messagesThe South African government faces both explicit and implicit contingent liability commitments in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the extent of its financial obligations during this disaster is contained in policy and law, it retains the flexibility to…

Annually, UNICEF conducts a review – titled the “Budget Briefs ” - of the main social sector budgets (basic education, social development and health) as well as the overall the national budget.  The budget briefs explore the extent to which the national budget and social services sector budgets address the needs of children under 18 years in South…, November 2019, National Budget BriefSouth Africa 2019/20 2 This budget brief is one of five that explores the extent to which the national budget and social services sector budgets address the needs of children under 18 years in South Africa. The briefs analyse the size and composition of budget allocations for fiscal year 2019/20 as well as offer insights into…

Cape Town  - A few days after the commemoration of World Children’s Day, UNICEF was invited to address the Appropriations Committee of Parliament. This was in the context of the government’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), an annual exercise and an example of democracy in action as key civil society actors provide perspective and…

Johannesburg -  “How do we achieve good collaboration between families and the state so that children develop well and no child is left behind?” This was the key question posed to a panel that was invited to address the launch of the 2018 Child Gauge which, significantly, was held on World Children’s Day at the University of the Witwatersrand.…

PRETORIA, 23 February 2018:  UNICEF South Africa acknowledges the South African Government’s commitment to ensuring a balance between financial stability and ensuring the progressive realisation of children’s social and economic rights. UNICEF is pleased to note that total government expenditure is projected to increase by an average of 1.9 per…